OKC Accolades

OKC Housing Market Continues to Rank High for AffordabilityMarch 23, 2015 - CitylabCitylab looked at how many years’ worth of income it would take, on average, to buy a home in metros across the county. Unsurprisingly, OKC fared well in the experiment ranking No. 4 for singles and No. 9 for families. The publication found it would take just 2.6 years of income for a family to buy a home in Oklahoma City.

Greater Oklahoma City Has One of the Lowest Level of Income Inequality in the NationMarch 23, 2015 - BrookingsLooking at census data Brookings found that Oklahoma City has the fourth-lowest level of income inequality among major metros in the U.S. The study looked at data between 2012 and 2013.

Experts rank OKC as One of the Best Cities to Move to in 2015March 23, 2015 - Simple Moving LaborLooking to move? Simple Moving Labor has ranked Oklahoma City as the No. 4 "Best City to Move to in 2015". OKC ranked high in part due to home affordability and the energy/aerospace sectors.

OKC Has One of the Strongest Growth Economies in U.S.March 16, 2015 - BrookingsBrookings recently analyzed 300 of the largest metros in the world and found that Greater OKC ranks No. 7 in the U.S. for economic growth. They looked at factors such as GDP, employment and more to find that OKC's GDP growth is actually 6 times higher than the national average for North American metros. OKC also ranked No. 66 worldwide.

Brookings: Oklahoma One of the States Diversifying the FastestMarch 11, 2015 - BrookingsAccording to a recent study from Brookings Oklahoma ranks No. 8 nationally for states who are diversifying quickly. Currently 45 percent of Oklahomans under the age of 19 are people of color.

OKC Housing Markets Ranks High InternationallyMarch 9, 2015 - DemographiaWe all know OKC has one of the most affordable housing markets in the U.S. Did you also know it is one of the most affordable major metros in the world? A recent study by Demographia ranked OKC the No. 13 most affordable housing market among nine countries it looked at.

OU Ranked as One of Top Colleges in the CountryFeb. 12, 2015 - The Business JournalsThe University of Oklahoma was recently ranked as the 57th best public college in the U.S. by The Business Journals. The publication looked at a total of 484 four-year colleges for its rankings.

OKC's AAA Rating ReaffirmedFeb. 5, 2015 - Standard & Poor's/MoodyOklahoma City recently had their AAA rating, the highest rating possible, reaffirmed by both Standard & Poor's and Moody's. This makes the fifth-straight year the city has received the AAA rating. The high rating allows OKC to sell bonds at a lower interest rate.

Forbes: OKC a Great City for HispanicsFeb. 2, 2015 - ForbesForbes recently ranked the major U.S. cities for Hispanic economic opportunities. The Greater Oklahoma City metro placed high on this list due to factors such as home ownership rate, population growth and share of total self-employment.

Fastest Growing Cities? You Bet OKC Made that Forbes ListJan. 29, 2015 - ForbesWith a population growth rate of 1.2 percent, Oklahoma City made Forbes' "America's Fastest-Growing Cities 2015" list. The publication predicts even greater growth for the region this year.

Forbes: Thunder Fans Rank Among NBA’s BestJan. 23, 2015 - ForbesTo the shock of no one in Oklahoma City, Forbes recently ranked Thunder fans the second-best fanbase in the NBA. The Thunder are nearing 200-straight home sell outs and Forbes highlighted the Thunder’s impressive TV ratings.

OKC Once Again Scores High for Jobs MarketJan. 13, 2015 - WalletHubWalletHub recently looked at the 150 biggest cities in the U.S. to find its "Best Cities for Job Market for 2015" and unsurprisingly Oklahoma City made the top 10. This makes the second "Best Cities for Jobs" list the metro has made this week.

Stillwater and Norman Named Among Best College CitiesJan. 13, 2015 - WalletHubTwo college towns in the Oklahoma City metro recently made WalletHub's list of "Best College Cities and Towns in America" for 2014 list. Stillwater, home of Oklahoma State, came in at No. 8 with high rankings in affordability. The University of Oklahoma and Norman came in at No. 36 also scoring high in affordability.

Best Cities for Job Seekers? OKC Makes the ListJan. 13, 2015 - NerdWalletIf you are looking for a job few places rank higher than Oklahoma City according to NerdWallet. The website highlighted the metro's low unemployment, low rent rates and the growth in our working-age population in its "Best Cities for Job Seekers in 2015" list.

Oklahoma Ranks Ninth Among Top Moving DestinationsJan. 5, 2015 - United Van LinesOklahoma is a popular destination for movers according to the 2014 Annual National Movers Study released by United Van Lines. Oklahoma ranked No. 9 among destinations with more than 57 percent of movers being inbound.

OK has Been A-OK Since RecessionDec. 23, 2014 - Bureau of Economic AnalysisWhen it comes to earnings growth, few states has fared as well as Oklahoma. Recently the Bureau of Economic Analysis looked at the data and found that the Sooner State was one of the top three states with the highest percentage earnings growth since 2009.

National Geographic Traveler Names Oklahoma City as a Best Trips 2015 DestinationNov. 21, 2014 - National Geographic TravelerNational Geographic Traveler named Oklahoma City as a must-see destination for 2015. The list comprises of 30 locations worldwide and highlights Downtown OKC as well as the Asian District.

Oklahoma No. 1 Place for Oil-and-Gas Investing WorldwideNov. 20, 2014 - Fraser InstituteOklahoma ranks No. 1 on the list of best places for ease of investment in oil and gas worldwide according to a recent survey from the Fraser Institute. In addition to the No.1 worldwide ranking among the 156 locations in Fraser's "Global Petroleum Survey 2014," Oklahoma was ranked as the No. 1 most attractive jurisdiction with medium-sized oil and gas reserves; the No. 1 most attractive for investment in petroleum exploration and development; and No. 1 for having the lowest barriers for investment, among others.

Forbes tabs Oklahoma as a Best State for BusinessNov. 13, 2014 - ForbesOklahoma made Forbes' annual "Best States for Business" list. Oklahoma came in 10th, which represented a move up in the rankings compared to the previous year. The publication highlighted Oklahoma's low energy costs and business climate.

Oklahoma Ranks High for Business ClimateNov. 4, 2014 - Site SelectionSite Selection set out to find the states with the best business climates this year and unsurprisingly Oklahoma ranked high, coming in at No. 11. A bulk of the data used in the ranking was from a survey conducted of site selectors who ranked states based upon their recent experiences of locating facilities there.

Kiplinger: OKC is No. 1 for Starting a BusinessOct. 30, 2014 - KiplingerLooking for the perfect place to start your next business? According to Kiplinger, look no further than Oklahoma City. The publication ranked the metro No. 1 on its "Best Cities for Starting a Business" list. OKC's low cost of living and thriving small business community were just a couple of factors that helped it nab the top spot.

Few Big Cities More Affordable than OKCOct. 24, 2014 - KiplingerAffordability is crucial to business success today and according to Kiplinger you won't find many big cities more affordable than Oklahoma City. The business magazine named the metro No. 9 on its "Most Affordable Big City in the U.S." list due to low living costs and steady home values.

OKC Shows Strong GDP GrowthOct. 3, 2014 - Bureau of Economic AnalysisAccording to new numbers from the Bureau of Economic Analysis the Oklahoma City MSA saw a 3.5 percent increase in GDP growth from 2011-2013. OKC is one of only 3 large metros in the country to post a gain of 3.5 percent or higher.

Oklahoma Ranks No. 1 in Durable Goods Manufacturing GrowthSept. 30, 2014 - Bureau of Economic Analysis Oklahoma continues to see impressive manufacturing growth through the first half of the fiscal year. In fact the Bureau of Economic Analysis ran the numbers and the Sooner state paced the nation in manufacturing earnings growth of durable goods from the first to second quarter of 2014. Oklahoma saw a 4.1 percent increase, a full half a percent higher than the next closest state on the list.

Five Metro Schools Ranked Among America's BestSept. 20, 2014 - Newsweek Five metro schools made Newsweek's annual "America's Top High Schools" list. The rankings are based on achievement and college readiness scores. The five high schools ranked were: Bethany, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Edmond Memorial, Norman and Norman North.

Thunder Ranked Seventh-Best Sports Franchise in North AmericaSept. 19, 2014 - ESPN The Oklahoma City Thunder were recently ranked No. 7 on ESPN's annual "Best Sport Franchise in North America" list. The list looks at factors like affordability, fan relations, stadium experience and winning. The Thunder were the third ranked NBA team.

Oklahoma Ranks No. 2 for Recent GradsSept. 19, 2014 - FindTheBestWebsite Find the Best recently set out to find which states have been the best for recent college grads since the recession. Using data such as median income, tuition and unemployment rates, the site ranked Oklahoma No. 2 on its list. If you just graduated college looks like you should be headed to Oklahoma.

Two OKC Suburbs Rank as Best Cities to LiveSept. 17, 2014 - 24/7 Wall StreetTwo communities in Greater Oklahoma City ranked high in 24/7 Wall St.’s “50 Best Cities to Live.” Edmond and Norman ranked No. 14 and 35 respectively among 550 cities the publication looked at. Data such as crime rates, schools and employment were factored in.

OKC among World's Smartest Cities for TravelersAug. 26, 2014 - National Geographic TravelNational Geographic Travel knows a thing or two about the world and recently they named Oklahoma City one of the "World's Smartest Cities." The travel pub went on to say, "(Oklahoma City) has transformed 7.5 miles of dry riverbed into an urban park (Oklahoma River Trails) and Olympic-caliber rowing center."

Forbes: OKC ranks as the No. 7 Best Place for Business July 23, 2014 - ForbesForbes recently released their 2014 "Best and Worst Places for Business 2014" list and as you would expect Oklahoma City fared well. The metro ranked No. 7 on the list and the publication highlighted OKC's outstanding job and income growth over the past five years.

OKC: No. 1 Best City to Launch a StartupJuly 9, 2014 - NerdWalletAccess to funding, labor and the cost of living can make or break a new business. Based on a NerdWallet study, OKC is ranked the No. 1 place to start a business in the U.S.

Oklahoma Ranks No. 7 on Thumbtack's Business Friendly List June 26, 2014 - ThumbtackOklahoma was given an A+ and ranked No. 7 in Thumbtack's annual Small Business Friendliest Survey. Here in the metro OKC received a grade of A- and was praised for the city's training and networking programs.

You Won't Waste Time in Traffic in OKCJune 19, 2014 - New GeographyDo you want to live in a thriving city but don't want to spend your time stuck in traffic? OKC might be the perfect place for you as the metro ranks as the 7th least congested metro in the U.S.

Oklahoma ranked No. 7 in "Small Business Friendliness" SurveyJune 2014 - Thumbtack.com and Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationThumbtack, in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, has named Oklahoma the seventh best state in the nation for small business friendliness in a survey of more than 12,000 small-business owners. Oklahoma City's small business friendliness score was an A-. The state's A+ ratings came from ease of starting a business, zoning and training and networking programs.

OKC Ranked No. 10 "Best City to Drive a Car" June 17, 2014 - Nerd WalletNerd Wallet set out to find which major cities were best for drivers and OKC came in at No. 10. The publication sited OKC's affordable gas prices as a big positive for the metro.

Oklahoma is Home to One of the Fastest Growing EconomiesJune 13, 2014 - U.S. Bureau of Economic AnyalsisAccording to new data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Oklahoma has one of the top-five-fastest growing economies in the nation. Oklahoma saw a 4.17 percent increase in its GDP while the nation saw only a 1.9 percent increase over the same time span.

Workers are More Satisfied in OKCJune 13, 2014 - Fast CompanyAccording to a new report from Fast Company, workers in Oklahoma City are some of the most satisfied in the nation. The publication ranked OKC No. 8 on its Employment Satisfaction Report Card due to employment opportunities in the metro.

Forbes: Oklahoma One of the Best States to Make a LivingJune 9, 2014 - ForbesUsing economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and C2ER, Forbes ranked the best (and worst) states to make a living. To no one’s surprise, Oklahoma fared well coming in at No. 9 on the list. Low unemployment and competitive cost of living helped the Sooner State achieve the ranking.

OKC Ranks as a Great Place to Work for a Small BusinessMay 13, 2014 - Wallet HubOKC routinely makes "Best Places to Start a Small Business" lists but what about working for a small business? The metro also ranks high in that regard according to Wallet Hub The website ranked OKC No. 5 on its "Best Cities to Work for a Small Business" ranking.

Looking to Start a Business? OKC is the PlaceApril 3 2014 - The Business JournalsAccording to The Business Journals, if you want to start a small business you should look no further than Oklahoma City. The publication ranked OKC No. 7 on its "Best Metros for Small Business" list. The metro's population growth helped achieve the status.

CNNMoney: "People are flocking to OKC"March 31, 2014 - CNNMoneyAccording to CNNMoney, people are flocking to OKC as the publication ranked the metro No. 9 on its "10 Fastest Growing Cities" list. Oklahoma City's population has grown by more than 5 percent since 2010.

Oklahoma City: One of Nation’s Most Affordable CitiesMarch 11, 2014 - ForbesOklahoma City ranks ninth among America’s most affordable cities, according to a March 2014 report in Forbes Magazine. Two factors figured prominently in Forbes’ ranking: the Housing Opportunity Index from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo the cost-of-living index developed by Sperling’s Best Places.

Oklahoma City Ranks High for Business StartupsMarch 11, 2014 - WalletHubOklahoma City again has received recognition for its business-friendly climate. WalletHub, a personal finance social network , has named Oklahoma City one of the best cities in which to start a business. Out of the 150 largest cities in the United States, Oklahoma City ranked 12th overall for its startup business climate.

Workers in their Prime are Moving to OKCJanuary 31, 2014 - ForbesForbes set out to find what major cities workers in their prime (ages 35-49) where moving to. By analyzing population data from 2007 to 2012, the publication found that many workers are finding OKC more than OK. The metro ranked No. 10 on their "Where Workers in their Prime are Moving" ranking.

OKC Ranked in Top 20 for AffordabilityJanuary 21, 2014 - International Housing Affordability SurveyOklahoma City ranked as the No. 17 (among major markets) for affordability in the 10th annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey. The annual survey looks at the housing prices of more than 360 markets across nine countries.

Forbes Touts OKC as a Retirement DestinationJanuary 16, 2014 - ForbesAfter looking at data for more than 400 cities in every state, Forbes found the "25 Best Places to Retire" and Oklahoma City unsurprisingly made the list. The publication listed a good economy, low cost of living, moderate home prices and high volunteer rate as reasons people should look towards OKC to spend their retirement.

10 Best Cities for Job SeekersJanuary 13, 2014 - Nerd WalletIf you are looking for a job NerdWallet.com says to look no further than Oklahoma City. The website ranked OKC No. 9 on its "10 Best U.S. Cities for Job Seekers" list. The ranking is based on the city's low unemployment rate, rapid growth and affordability.

OKC Ranked One of the Top Budget-Friendly MetrosJan. 6, 2014 - Apartment GuideApartment Guideset out to find the "Most-Budget Friendly Metros" for its readers and unsurprisingly Oklahoma City was near the top of the list. Combining best value in rent rates and low cost of living, OKC ranked No. 9 nationally on the list.

Forbes: Invest in OKC HousingDecember 26, 2013 - ForbesLooking to buy a home? According to Forbes, Oklahoma City should be near the top of your list. The magazine ranked OKC No. 7 on its "Best Cities to Invest in Housing 2014" list. A robust economy and affordable homes helped the metro in the ranking.

Metro has the Momentum Going into New YearDecember 26, 2013 - ComplexBased on a variety of metrics, New Geography listed Oklahoma City as one of the metro areas with the "Most Economic Momentum" for 2014. Overall, OKC ranked No. 8 on the list due in no small part to continued low unemployment and high job growth.

OKC is a Must-Visit Destination November 18, 2013 - ComplexWebsite Complex.com has ranked OKC as one of 10 "U.S. Cities that Transformed into a Must-Visit Destination." The website highlighted the city's trails, river sports and rock climbing, calling it "a mecca for those looking for outdoor activity."

Millennials are Flocking to OKC November 14, 2013 - The AtlanticAccording to Census data, Oklahoma City is one of the 15 most popular cities for Millennials. In fact, the metro ranks No. 12 in the U.S. for net migration gains during the post-recession years.

Oklahoma City Ranks No. 5 for Middle-Class Job CreationOctober 24, 2013 - New GeographyThe middle class is thriving in Oklahoma City as a new report by New Geography ranks the metro No. 5 in middle class job creation. OKC has seen a 2.1 percent increase in middle class job creation since 2007. Only eight major U.S. cities posted positive job growth numbers over that time.

OKC Ranks No. 3 in Post-Recession Housing Market Recovery October 7, 2013 - Apartment GuideOklahoma City ranks 3rd out of 350 metros in the U.S., in post-recession housing market recovery according to new data from the National Association of Home Builders. Looking at permits, prices and employment, the NAHB found that OKC is actually running at 110 percent its pre-recession activity.

Wages Continue to Grow in OKCSept. 2, 2013 - The Atlantic: CitiesOklahoma City ranked No. 6 on The Atlantic: Cities' list of large metros with the highest wage increase since the recovery. According to the data, metro residents saw an average salary increase of $3,460 between 2009 and 2012.

Luxury is Affordable in OKC August 5, 2013 - Apartment GuideAccording to Apartment Guide, Oklahoma City is one of the best places to find value in the apartment market. The publication ranked OKC No. 9 on its list of "10 Affordable Cities where Luxury Apartments are Within Your Reach". The ranking was determined by looking at lower rent prices that still provided top amenities to the renters. The ranking is just more proof than in OKC your dollar stretches further.

OKC is a "Magnet of Opportunity"July 30, 2013 - The Daily BeastThe Daily Beast set out to find the most "Aspirational" cities in the U.S. and unsurprisingly OKC ranked No. 4. The ranking looked at the economy, quality of life and demographics of each city to determine which cities presented the most opportunity to their citizens.

OKC Ranks No. 12 "Brainiest" Metro July 16, 2013 - The Atlantic CitiesThe Atlantic Cities set out to find the "brainiest" metros in the USA using the cognitive performance index. Measured by several dimensions such as regional innovation and economic performance, Oklahoma City ranks No. 12 out of all large metros (pop. more than 1 million) in the index.

Running City, USA - OKC Ranks as One of the Fittest Cities in AmericaJuly 9, 2013 - FacebookAccording to fitness-related check-ins, Facebook ranked OKC No. 8 on its "Fittest Cities" list. In fact, the website gave the Metro the name "Runner City".

OKC Cracks Top 10 List for New GradsJune 17, 2013 - Apartments.comAs summer begins, new graduates are entering the workforce and according to Apartments.com Oklahoma City is one of the first places they should look to start their career. The website ranked OKC No. 7 on its "Best Cities for New Grads" list. The metro's low unemployment and rent rates helped obtain the lofty ranking.

Military Families Have a Home in OKCJune 17, 2013 - MilitaryFriendly.comOklahoma City and Tinker Air Force Base have always shared a strong bond and MilitaryFriendly.com recognized that support. The website recently named OKC No. 2 on its "Top 50 Military Friendly Cities". The metro has more than 250 veteran owned businesses.

Tastiest tap water? You bet!June 12, 2013 - American Water Works AssociationAccording to the American Water Works Association, Oklahoma City has the best tap water in the U.S. OKC won the annual "Best of the Best" Tap Water Taste Test at the AWWA's annual conference.

Forbes: OKC is an American Manufacturing BoomtownMay 30, 2013 - ForbesAccording to a report from Forbes, Oklahoma City is one of the cities helping an American renaissance in manufacturing. In fact, the publication ranked OKC No. 4 on it "Manufacturing Boomtown" list. The metro has seen a 15.7 percent increase in manufacturing jobs since 2009.

OKC Ranks 4th for Economic StrengthMay 23, 2013 - The Business JournalsGreater Oklahoma City ranked No. 4 in May's On the Numbers Economic Index. The monthly reports looks at the economic vitality of the U.S.'s biggest cities, factoring in things such as job growth, unemployment and retail activity.

Oklahoma City is Ideal for Young EntrepreneursApril 29, 2013 - NerdWalletAre you young and looking to start the next Facebook or Twitter? Few cities offer you more than OKC, according to NerdWallet. The website ranked the metro No. 5 on its "Best Cities for Young Entrepreneurs" list. The site claimed Oklahoma City's low cost of living and available capital as great opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Bloomberg: OKC is a BoomtownApril 29, 2013 - BloombergBusiness publication Bloomberg ran the census numbers to find the top Boomtowns in America and unsurprisingly Oklahoma City made the list. With a population increase of 7.13 percent between 2007 and 2011, the metro ranked 7th in the U.S. OKC has also had a 1.44 percent GDP compound annual growth over the same period.

Want to Start a Business? OKC is for YouApril 22, 2013 - NerdWalletFor Small Business Month, NerdWallet set out to find the "Best Cities to Start a Business" and when the publication crunched the numbers, OKC came in at 5th on their list. NerdWallet cited the metro's aviation and healthcare hubs, low unemployment, low cost of living and available funding as reasons you need to start your next business in Oklahoma City.

Forbes: OKC Among Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S.April 2, 2013 - ForbesForbes recently looked at demographic trends to determine which cities in the U.S. were growing the fastest and unsurprisingly Oklahoma City made the list. In fact, OKC ranked 12th with a growth rate 60 percent above the national average. The metro was one of the biggest risers, as Oklahoma City ranked 20th over the past decade.

Best Places for Young Adults? OKC Ranks in the Top 10March 26, 2013 - The Business JournalsMore than 1.8 million U.S. students will be finishing college this May. Where should they go to start their career? According to The Business Journals, Oklahoma City should be at the top of their list. The business publication ranked OKC No. 7 on its "Best Places for Young Adults" list. The study looked at factors such as population growth, per capita income and private-sector employment growth.

OKC Gets AAA Rating for Third Straight YearMarch 13, 2013 - Standard and Poor'sFor the third straight year, OKC has received a AAA rating from Standard & Poor's. Strong financial management practices, high reserve levels and a stable and diverse economy are three of the factors that led the rating services to confirm Oklahoma City’s General Obligation debt rating. The rating allows OKC access to lower interest rates. Moody's Investor Service also gave OKC a AAA rating.

High-Wage Sectors Growing Fast in OKC February 27, 2013 - New GeographyIn an era where many businesses are shedding high paying jobs, that sector continues to grow in Oklahoma City. New Geography ran the numbers and OKC ranks No. 6 on the "Fastest Growing High-Wage Sector" list. The metro saw a 31 percent growth in this sector over the past decade.

Forbes: OKC is One of the Best Cities for Good JobsFebruary 25, 2013 - KiplingerForbes recently ranked Oklahoma City No. 7 on its "10 Best Cities for Good Jobs" list. The publication looked at cities with the best combination of low unemployment, high wages and expected job growth to formulate their ranking.

Greater OKC Sports Three Universities on Best Values ListFebruary 22, 2013 - KiplingerAccess to an educated workforce is critical to all companies. With several high-quality, affordable universities in the metro area, companies in OKC are at a competitive advantage in the quest to find a talented workforce. Greater OKC placed three colleges on Kiplinger's "Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges" list: the University of Oklahoma, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

OKC Ranks No. 2 for Small BusinessFebruary 7, 2013 - The Business JournalLooking for the perfect place to launch your next business? Few places are better than Oklahoma City as The Business Journal ranked the metro the second-best city in America for small business. The business publication looked at several factors for its formula. OKC had a 4.02 percent job growth the past year and has 26.9 small businesses per 1,000 people.

Oklahoma Ranks Sixth in Wind PowerJanuary 31, 2013 - American Wind Energy AssociationAccording to the American Wind Energy Association, Oklahoma ranks sixth in the nation for wind-generation capacity. More than 1,100 megawatts of wind power capacity was added in 2012, moving the state up from eighth place in 2011.

Oklahoma City Among the Fastest GrowingJanuary 24, 2013 - ForbesForbes continues to recognize Oklahoma City, as the publication ranked the metro 17th on its list of "Fastest Growing Cities". Forbes predicts OKC will grow by 1.2 percent in 2013. That follows a 1 percent increase in 2012.

OKC Regains Top Spot in Economic RankingsJanuary 15, 2013 - On Numbers Economic IndexOklahoma City once again ranks No. 1 in the monthly On Numbers Economic Index. The index looks at the top 102 markets in the United States and ranks their vitality. Oklahoma City has ranked No. 1 five out of the six months the index has been released.

What Recession?December 27, 2012 - Brookings InstituteIn a recent report from the Brookings Institute, OKC ranked 3rd on the list of “Metro Areas' Recovery From Pre-recession Peak - Best and Worst”. The study looked at factors such as employment growth, unemployment rate and Housing Price Growth. OKC ranked highest in housing growth and low unemployment.

Oklahoma City Tops Economic Strength Ranking for Fourth Straight MonthNovember 12, 2012 - On Numbers Economic IndexFor the fourth consecutive month, Oklahoma City has ranked first in the On Numbers Economic Index. The index measures the economic health of metro areas above 500,000 in population. OKC's low unemployment rate, growth in the retail sector and stability in the housing market garnered the metro the top spot in the ranking.

OKC-headquartered Devon Energy Named One of America's Most Community-Minded CompaniesNovember 12, 2012 - BusinessweekDevon Energy, headquartered in Downtown Oklahoma City, was recently named to Businessweek's inaugural Civic 50. Devon ranked No. 41 in the new program designed to recognize the most community-minded companies in America. The Civic 50 recognizes companies that commit their time, talent and resources to empower and improve local communities.

OKC Ranks in Top 10 for Job GrowthNovember 2, 2012 - CareerBuilder.comMore and more national publications are starting to notice Oklahoma City's resilience during the recession. This time its CareerBuilder.com, as the website ranked Oklahoma City 6th in job growth between 2010 and 2012 (among large metros). According to the site, OKC added nearly 29,000 jobs during that period of time, ranking right above Dallas and San Francisco.

Oklahoma Rated as One of the Top States for Doing BusinessOctober 26, 2012 - Area DevelopmentOklahoma ranked No. 10 in Area Development's annual "Top States for Doing Business" report. The ranking surveys location consultants on a multitude of factors. Oklahoma ranked high in incentives and workforce development programs. These two areas show continued strides the region has made in its economic development platform over the past decade.

ESPN Ranks the Thunder the Top Franchise in SportsOctober 18, 2012 - ESPNThe Oklahoma City Thunder have done more than take the NBA by storm as ESPN has named them the top franchise in all of pro sports. The magazine looked at a host of factors to see what franchises offered the most to their fan base. The Thunder scored particularly high in fan relations and the likability of its players.

OKC Continues its Streak as Nation's Economic Leader October 8, 2012 - The Business JournalsFor the third month in a row, Oklahoma City has ranked #1 on the On Numbers Economic Index. The article highlighted OKC's unemployment rate, job growth, wage increases and housing sector as reasons for economic success.

OKC is the Place for Engineers October 4, 2012 - New GeographyA study by New Geography ranked Oklahoma City No. 3 on its "Best Cities for Engineers" list. Engineering jobs have increased more than 10 percent since 2009. According to the study, "With nearly 14,000 current jobs, OKC is a good spot for engineers to be looking."

OKC Ranks as One of the Best Cities for College Students October 1, 2012 - American Institute for Economic ResearchThe American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) recently ranked Oklahoma City as the third-best mid-sized metro for college students. The report looked at 12 factors such as academic environment, quality of life and professional opportunities. OKC scored high marks for cost of living, student concentration and low unemployment.

Housing Revival No Problem in OKCSeptember 14, 2012 - The Business JournalsWhile many cities are still trying to regain their housing market, data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency shows Oklahoma City is not having that problem. From 2007 to 2012, Oklahoma City saw a 2.88 percent increase in its housing index. This index represents housing prices. The increase was good for fifth best in the U.S. and boasts the stability of the metro's housing market.

Metro Area Makes Best Communities for Young PeopleSeptember 13, 2012 - America's Promise AllianceFor the sixth time, Oklahoma City was named one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by America's Promise Alliance. According the ranking Oklahoma City "continues to serve as a national model for making youth a citywide priority by offering a variety of programs to help support their academic success and overall well-being.

Oklahoma Outpaces the Nation in Household Income GrowthSeptember 13, 2012 - U.S. Census BureauFew states has been as resilient as Oklahoma during the recession and proof continues to come in. According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma had the highest rate of median household income growth in the nation last year. From 2010 to 2011, Oklahoma's median household income 12.4 percent. The next closest state saw their income rise by 10.5 percent.

OKC Ranks No. 1 in Economic Strength September 10, 2012 - The Business JournalsOklahoma City continues to attract attention for its low unemployment and high private-sector job growth, ranking No. 1 on the On Numbers Economic Index for the month of September. The index awarded Oklahoma City with an overall score of 91.042, which topped the next-ranking city by more than five points.

Philanthropy Thrives in OKC September 6, 2012 - New GeographyAccording to a new report by How America Gives, Oklahoma City ranks as the seventh most charitable major metro area. The reports shows that residents in OKC are donating 5.5 percent of their income to charity. In term of raw dollars actually given, Oklahoma City ranked No. 1 in the state.

Oklahoma City Sees Increase in Population with Bachelor Degrees August 9, 2012 - New GeographyA new study by New Geography shows that Oklahoma City is battling "brain drain" as the metro ranked in the top 20 for "increases in population with Bachelor Degrees". The study, using census data, showed that OKC actually ranks four points higher than the national average. Oklahoma City is seeing an impressive influx of talented workers to its labor market.

Oklahoma Ranked No. 1 Spot for Oil & Gas Investment August 3, 2012 - Fraser InstituteOklahoma is the best place on earth for oil and gas investment, according to the Fraser Institute and their annual Global Petroleum Survey. Oklahoma jumped to the top spot after being ranked No. 4 in 2011.

Two OKC Institutions Named Best Places to Work in Academia August 1, 2012 - The ScientistThe Scientist magazine ranked the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundations (OMRF) and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHCS) among its 25 "Best Places to Work in Academia" list. OMRF was ranked 21st and received high marks for job satisfaction and pay. OUHSC came in 25th with high scores in teaching and mentoring as well as tenure and promotion.

Oklahoma Ranks First for Cost of LivingJuly 12, 2012 - CNBCIn their "America's Top States for Business 2012" ranking, CNBC ranked Oklahoma the top state for cost of living. Oklahoma also placed fourth in cost of business, proving that in Oklahoma the value you get for your dollar exceeds almost anywhere else in the country.

Oklahoma Bucks the Trend with RetailJuly 12, 2012 - The Business JournalAccording to The Business Journal, Oklahoma is one of only six states who have recovered their retail jobs lost during the recession. Oklahoma ranked fourth on that list, not only recovering the lost jobs but adding 2,000 additional more in the retail sector.

Millennials Will Find a Home in OKCJuly 9, 2012 - Moving.comThere are not many cities in the U.S. better to live in if you are a Millennial, according to the website Moving.com. The site ranked Oklahoma City No. 6 in its "Best City for Millennials" due to its low unemployment rate, affordable housing and good nightlife.

OKC Ranks as the Most Business-Friendly CityJune 11, 2012 - CNN MoneyThumbtack surveyed more than 6,000 small businesses nationwide and found that Oklahoma City is the "Most Business-Friendly City" in the United States. The metro area's low cost of living and rising college graduate retention rates helped take the top spot in the survey.

Men's Fitness Ranks OKC Among the FittestJune 1, 2012 - Men's FitnessMen's Fitnessranked Oklahoma City the 23rd "Fittest City" in the United States and called Oklahoma City the biggest success story of the year. The fitness magazine pointed to Mayor Mick Cornett's effort to put Oklahoma City on a diet as evidence of the city's commitment to healthier living.

Recent College Grads are Happy in OKCMay 25, 2012 - ForbesForbes recently set out to find what cities are great for college graduates looking for a job and Oklahoma City made the cut at No. 9. The study looked at numerous data points including job growth, compensation and working environment.

OKC Ranks in Top 10 for Best Big Cities for JobsMay 1, 2012 - ForbesForbes once again took notice of Oklahoma City as it ranked the metro the 10th "Best Big Cities for Jobs". OKC has been climbing the ranking of the annual report each year. Last year Oklahoma City ranked 22nd but moved up the ranking with an employment growth of 1.7 percent.

OKC Ranked No. 1 for Highest Annual Earnings Growth RateApril 27, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Greater Oklahoma City metro’s average weekly earnings are growing faster than any other metro of its size, according to a report issued by Garner Economics LLC. As of February 2012, Oklahoma City had an annual growth rate of 11.3 percent, the highest rate among cities with more than 1 million residents.

Oklahoma City Named Least-Costly City by KPMG StudyApril 17, 2012 - KPMGOklahoma City was named the least-costly city to do business among 13 midsized U.S. cities according to a study by KPMG LLP. Oklahoma City had a cost index of 95.5, representing business costs 4.5 percent below the U.S. national baseline of 100.0

OKC Ranked No. 3 for Small BusinessApril 13, 2012 - The Business JournalSmall business is the backbone to any healthy economy so it is no surprise Oklahoma City ranks at the third "Best U.S. City for Small Business. The Business Journal created a formula to analyze small business climates across the country. The metro area has 26.27 small businesses per 1,00 residents.

OKC Ranks as Top City for Job CreationMarch 30, 2012 - GallupGallup's Job Creation Index ranked Oklahoma City as the number one city for job creation in 2011 out of the nation's 50 largest metro areas. According to the study, Oklahoma City had a job creation index score of 25, outplacing other top-performing cities by at least 3 points and beating the national job creation score by 12 points.

Oklahoma Ranks in the Top 5 for Personal Income Gains March 28, 2012 - Wells Fargo Securities Oklahoma's personal income grew by 6.2 percent in 2011 ranking it as one of the five-fastest growing states in 2011. Wells Fargo contributed the gains to the energy and agricultural sectors.

U-Haul Names OKC a Top 50 City for MoversMarch 27, 2012 - U-Haul InternationalU-Haul knows a thing or two about moving and they know OKC is a great destination. Oklahoma City came in at No. 27 in their list of "Top 50 Cities for Movers". The ranking reflects destinations for movers traveling more than 50 miles. The study looked at every city in the country regardless of size.

OKC Tech Company Makes Best Places to Work List March 17, 2012 - Business InsiderOKC-based a la mode was recently named the fifth-best Tech Company to work for in the U.S. by Business Insider. Companies like a la mode and others who frequent "Best Places to Work" lists are just more examples of OKC being a great place to recruit and retain employees due the metro areas' business climate and growing creative-class.

Survey Finds OKC One of the Best Cities for Jobs in 2012March 13, 2012 - Manpower GroupManpower Group, an employment service firm, recently surveyed 18,000 employers across the country and tabbed Oklahoma City fourth in the their "Best City for Jobs in Spring of 2012". The metro area had a net employment outlook of 20 percent for the second quarter. In total, 24 percent of the OKC companies surveyed expected to increase hiring in the Spring.

Arts and Entertainment a Big Boon For Oklahoma City March 6, 2012 - The Business JournalsYear after year, Oklahoma City sees growth in both tourism and general recreational spending. In fact, Arts and Entertainment are starting to become a significant sector of the OKC economy. According to stats recently released by The Business Journals, Oklahoma City ranks in the top 10 percent of all metros in Arts and Entertainment employment. This sector has more than 8,000 employees and that number continues to grow.

OKC is a Great Place for ManufacturingFebruary 20, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAs the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continue to release their 2011 data, OKC continues to get good news. It was revealed today that Oklahoma City ranked in the top 10 in manufacturing growth. The metro saw a 5.20 percent job increase in that sector over the past year.

Retail Continues to Grow in OKCFebruary 9, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAs 2012 kicks off, Oklahoma City continues to see the retail sector gain momentum. In fact, according to stats from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OKC ranked third in the nation in percentage increase in retail jobs. Oklahoma City saw a 3.68 percent increase in jobs in 2011.

U.S. Cities Bouncing Back from the RecessionFebruary 7, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAccording to recent statistics released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oklahoma City is one of 13 cities in the United States to have bounced back from the recession. The list includes major markets that have recovered all jobs lost during the recession.

Three OKC Companies Make 100 Best Place to Work ListFebruary 6, 2012 - FortuneThree Oklahoma City headquartered companies recently made Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work for List". American Fidelity Assurance, Chesapeake and Devon are all repeat winners and all not only made the list for 2012 but ranked in the top 50.

Three OKC Companies Make 100 Best Place to Work ListFebruary 6, 2012 - FortuneThree Oklahoma City headquartered companies recently made Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work for List". American Fidelity Assurance, Chesapeake and Devon are all repeat winners and all not only made the list for 2012 but ranked in the top 50.

OKC is Surging in Private-Sector GainsFebruary 6, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsA lot has been made about Oklahoma City's economic strength during the Recession and the numbers continue to back up the praise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, OKC ranked seventh in the nation for private-job growth between 2010 and 2011. The metro saw a 12,000 job increase which represents a 2.75 percent increase in one year.

Oklahoma City is One of the Happiest Cities to Work InJanuary 17, 2012 - CareerBliss.comPeople are just happier when going to work in Oklahoma City, at least according to CareerBliss.com. The company recently surveyed 43,000 workers nation wide and found that Oklahoma City was the third "Happiest City for Work", proving once again that OKC is the perfect place to work, play and live.

OKC Makes List of Cities with Best Real Estate Appreciation PotentialJanuary 11, 2012 - ForbesForbes recently released their list of cities they felt had great real estate potential and Oklahoma City made the top 10. OKC's steady home prices the past three years and four percent population growth helped the metro make the renowned publication's ranking.

Study Finds OKC Ranks High for IT ActivityJanuary 6, 2012 - Zinnov Leading management consulting company Zinnov recently looked at the best economically emerging mid-sized cities. Among other things, their study showed Oklahoma City ranked second among these top cities in back office outsourcing. The study went on to show that companies can save 20 to 25 percent by headquartering in places like Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Great for Starting a BusinessDecember 28, 2011 - KiplingerRenowned business forecaster Kiplinger named Oklahoma City one of its "10 Great Cities for Starting a Business". The write up goes on to say "Oklahoma City entrepreneurs have two big advantages over business owners elsewhere: midwestern start-up costs are low, and government support for business is strong." The article also highlights i2E's contributions to entrepreneurship in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Named One of the "Most Secure Places to Live"December 15, 2011 - Farmers InsuranceOklahoma City is one of the safest large metros according to Farmers Insurance's eighth annual "Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S." report. The study, which ranked OKC No. 18, looks at crime rates, extreme weather, air quality and other factors.

Forbes Recognizes Oklahoma City's Manufacturing EconomyDecember 15, 2011 - ForbesOklahoma City is no stranger to Forbes as the metro made another of the publication's rankings. This time Forbes named Oklahoma City one of the "Best Cities for Manufacturing Jobs". The story cited Oklahoma City's 28-percent growth in manufacturing jobs over the past 10 years.

Oklahoma City Ranked No. 1 for Economic SecurityDecember 14, 2011 - MetroTrendsMetroTrends released their annual Report Card on Economic Security and Oklahoma City was at the top of the class. The publication gave OKC an "A" and ranked it as the Best Metro in the U.S. for economic security. In the write up, the metro's area diverse economy was lauded, as well as the stable housing market.

Wall Street Journal Names OKC One of the Best Cities for BusinessDecember 13, 2011 - Wall Street Journal Market WatchThe Wall Street Journal recently released their annual list of "Best Cities for Business" and Oklahoma City cracked the list for the first time. The metro came in sixth due to its personal income and job growth. The article also highlighted Project 180 and the relocation of Boeing and Continental Resources.

Oklahoma City Offers Best Value in Office SpaceDecember 9, 2011 - Building Owners and Mangers AssociationOklahoma City offers one of the most competitive business climates in the country. One major factor in that is the affordability of the office market. Recently, the Building Owners and Managers Association ranked the metro area as the ninth most affordable office market in the U.S.

OG&E Named Best Electric Utility in North AmericaDecember 9, 2011 - Electric Light and PowerOklahoma City-based OG&E Electric Services was named the best electric utility in North America by Electric Light and Power Magazine. The publication highlighted OG&E's rollout of their new smart grid technology and the fact that OG&E consistently produces lower rates for Oklahoma when compared with other states.

Oklahoma is One of the Best States for BusinessDecember 8, 2011 - ForbesForbes recently released its sixth annual scorecard of "Best States for Business" and Oklahoma came in an impressive 13th. The publication highlighted Oklahoma as a state moving up due to our improved job and economic outlook. Oklahoma scored its highest ranking is business cost and economic climate ranking. Oklahoma City has routinely had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation the last couple of years.

Oklahoma City the Best Place for Military RetirementNovember 9, 2011 - USAAOklahoma City offers a high number of jobs that require skill-sets learned in the military. That combined with a large number of veteran-owned businesses, numerous federal jobs and a local VA medical center led USAA to name the metro as the "Best Place for Military Retirement" in the U.S.

Eight Healthiest Housing MarketsNovember 7, 2011 - RealtorMagThe National Association of Realtors recently named Oklahoma City one of the "8 Healthiest Housing Markets" in the United States. Expected income increases and low unemployment continue to attract new businesses and households to the metro area according to the publication.

10 Cities Where Mortgages are Staying Afloat November 3, 2011 - AOL Real EstateOklahoma City continues to receive national praise for its steady housing market. This time AOL Real Estate lauded the metro area at the No. 8 city "Where Mortgages are Staying Afloat". Low unemployment and steady home prices the past 12 months helped Oklahoma City land on the list.

Site Selection Tabs Oklahoma as Having One of the Best Business Climates November 1, 2011 - Site SelectionSite Selection released their annual rankings of "Best Business Climates" and Oklahoma came in at 13th. Of all the factors used, Oklahoma showed best in the Executive Survey aspect of the rank.

Oklahoma City is the Fourth-Best for a Job SearchOctober 25, 2011 - BenefitsProA lot of factors go into a healthy job market and Oklahoma City offers most of them. Low cost of living, low unemployment and value in the housing market caught BenefitPro's eye as the site named the metro area as the "Fourth Best City for a Job Search."

Oklahoma City Named One of the Nation's 100 Best Communities for Young PeopleOctober 12, 2011 - America's Promise Alliance and INGOklahoma City achieved national recognition as one of America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING for its initiatives to help young people. This is Oklahoma City's fifth time on the 100 Best Communities for Young People list.

Oklahoma City among Top 20 Strongest Metros in the Nation For Tenth Consecutive QuarterOctober 6, 2011 - BrookingsFor the tenth quarter in a row, Oklahoma City was listed as one of the Top 20 Strongest Metros among America's 100 largest metropolitan areas, according to The Brookings Institute MetroMonitor report. Oklahoma City has been in the Top 20 in this report since the recession began. While the majority of the cities evaluated saw high unemployment rates, rising foreclosures and other negative economic indicators, Oklahoma City saw a positive trend in nearly all areas.

Best Sports Cities: OKC Makes the CutOctober 4, 2011 - Sporting NewsOklahoma City has always been known as a town crazy about sports, from our love for our local minor league franchises to our favorite colleges, the metro has always boasted passionate fans. However, since the Thunder came to town that passion has been taken to another level. The Sporting News has taken notice and named OKC the No. 26 "Best Sports City" in America.

Oklahoma City #5 on "Best Places to Start Over" ListSeptember 31, 2011 - MSN Real EstateOklahoma City has done more than just OK in the jobs arena. It has consistently ranked as one of the nation's strongest economies over the past few years. Low unemployment, healthy economy and stable housing market landed OKC on the 10 "Best Places to Start Over" list.

Oklahoma Makes Top 10 in Two Categories of "Top States For Doing Business" SurveySeptember 22, 2011 - Area Development MagazineArea Development recently surveyed highly-respected location consultants and Oklahoma City came up big in two critical areas. The state ranked fourth in both incentives and shovel-ready programs. Those surveyed work with a nationwide client base.

Oklahoma City #3 on "10 Metros with Greatest 5-Year Gain in Real Estate Values" ListSeptember 2, 2011 - Inman News / ZillowHousing bubble not inspiring any Lawrence Welk-esque merriment in your area? Check out Oklahoma City. Zillow "calculated the 10 U.S. metro areas that have experienced the largest gains in home values over the past five years, based on the company's home-value estimates and its Zillow Home Value Index" in order to find the best housing markets in the country. OKC clocked in at a 10.1% rate of appreciation over that period, in stark contrast to the many negative rates that continue to dominate the nation.

Chesapeake Energy Arena Ranked 6th on the NBAAugust 24, 2011 - Orlando SentinelChesapeake Energy Arena was ranked as the 6th-best arena in the NBA due to great location, the mascot Rumble and friendly and rowdy fans. The author expects the arena to jump into the top three after current renovations are complete.

Oklahoma City Makes Top 10 of "Best Places to Live" ListAugust 3, 2011 - RelocateAmerica via WSJ MarketwatchCiting a "renovation of convention, cultural and educational sites" as well as all types of new downtown development projects, Oklahoma City lands at number 10 on another Top 10 list (this time from relocation specialist RelocateAmerica) for best places to live.

Kotkin: OKC a Top 20 Boom Town in the U.S.July 6, 2011 - Forbes / New GeographyPast, present and future job growth and demographic factors like growth in educated migration and population increases help explain Oklahoma City's presence on Joel Kotkin's "Next Boom Towns in the U.S." top 20 list, published in Forbes and New Geography. What's behind the next boom? "...well-established patterns of job creation and vital demographics will drive future regional growth, not only in the next year, but over the coming decade. People create economies and they tend to vote with their feet when they choose to locate their families as well as their businesses," says Kotkin.

Oklahoma City Named 2nd-Best Place to Start a Small BusinessJuly 1, 2011 - The Fiscal TimesAlong with an affordable cost of living and a high concentration of local investors, The Fiscal Times explains OKC's exciting environment for emerging companies as easy-to-succeed for entrepreneurs with a bevy of groundbreaking incentives alongside a strong economy, an expanding population, great "quality of life, revitalized downtown, and cultural activities, along with a talented workforce."

Forbes Best Places for Business and Careers: OKC #28 of 200June 29, 2011 - ForbesForbes looked at "12 metrics relating to job growth (past and projected), costs (business and living), income growth, educational attainment and projected economic growth," as well as a bevy of quality-of-life factors and proximity to highly-ranked colleges among the top 200 metros in the country. Oklahoma City's economic strength, cost of doing business, income growth and proximity to four universities on Forbes' "Best Colleges" ranking all helped OKC rise to the top 14% of all 200 metro areas studied.

Oklahoma Ranked 6th-Lowest Cost of Business State, 4th-Best EconomyJune 28, 2011 - CNBCIn CNBC's "America's Top States for Business 2011" report, Oklahoma ranked 6th-best for cost of business due to low income, property and business taxes, "particularly as they apply to new investments." CNBC also factored in utility costs, cost of wages and rental rates for both office and industrial space to round out their cost-of-business rankings. In addition, Oklahoma also ranked as the 4th-best economy (due to economic diversity and fiscal health) and the 3rd-lowest cost of living in the CNBC study.

Brookings: Oklahoma City Among Top 20 Metros for Overall PerformanceJune 21, 2011 - The Brookings Institution MetroMonitorOnce again, Oklahoma City is singled out among the Top 20 Performing Metros according to The Brookings Institution. Brookings examines employment numbers, unemployment rates, home prices and gross metropolitan product levels to determine their star performers, once again showing OKC's resilience and economic strength and diversity, even during - as well as after - the recession.

Oklahoma City Boasts 5th-Best Retail Employment Growth Since RecessionJune 20, 2011 - The Business JournalsIn Bizjournals' analysis of new U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Oklahoma City ranks fifth in raw retail employment growth since April 2008, "when the recession slammed the brakes on consumer spending." OKC is also one of only eight of the top 100 markets to add jobs since the recession began, another indication of how Oklahoma City's economic strength makes it one of the country's few prime growth spots for destination retail. With a strong economy, high-paying jobs, multiple Fortune 500 headquarters and a real estate market lauded for its investment potential, OKC is on every national retailer's radar.

Global Insight: Oklahoma City Expected to Show 2nd-Highest GMP GrowthJune 20, 2011 - U.S. Conference of Mayors / Global InsightWith an estimated 7.5% increase in Gross Metropolitan Product, Oklahoma City ranked 2nd for GMP growth among the 100 largest U.S. metros in Global Insight's 2011 U.S. Metro Economies Report of GMP and employment forecasts. Highlighting a rosy future as well as a sunny recent past, the report also details OKC's actual 4.8% annual average GMP growth rate from 2007-2009, which ranks #1 among the 100 largest metros, as well as our lowest unemployment rate among metros with more than 1 million in population for Q1 of 2011.

Two OKC HQ'd Cos Among Computerworld's "Best Places To Work in IT"June 20, 2011 - ComputerworldA healthy, highly-skilled, productive, cutting-edge workforce is the norm in Oklahoma City. For the 2nd year in a row, Chesapeake Energy (#7) and American Fidelity (#11) have been named to Computerworld's "Best Places to Work in IT" list - both headquartered in OKC.

OKC a Top 20 Fastest-Growing Area for 5-17 Year-OldsJune 16, 2011 - New GeographyIn another sign of present and future growth, New Geography looked at new census data to determine the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. for kids, while noting that most cities at the top had a few things in common, including job growth, strong economies and affordable housing. Want a place that's attractive to families and where it's easy to find a workforce now and in the future? Try Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Thunder Ranked 6th-Best Pro Sports Franchise by ESPNJune 15, 2011 - ESPN The MagazineRanked 6th overall and 2nd in the NBA by ESPN, the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder mirrors their hometown by excelling in areas crucial and easily recognizable to business that explain both on- and off-the-court success: Bang for the buck (ROI), overall affordability (low cost structures), fan relations (spirit of community partnership) and players (workforce).

Two OKC HQ'd Cos Named to Top 10 "Best Large Companies to Work for in America"June 7, 2011 - Careerbuilder.com / AOL JobsWant a place where headquarter companies can thrive? Try Oklahoma City, with two companies, Chesapeake Energy and Devon Energy, in the Top 10, according to AOL Jobs and Careerbuilder.com.

OKC #3 on "Best Cities for Recent Grads" ListJune 1, 2011 - Newsweek / The Daily BeastAfter four years at college, which "cities offer the brightest future?" Oklahoma City ranks 3rd in Newsweek's "The Daily Beast" new "Best Cities for Recent Grads" list by virtue of our superior economy along with an outstanding quality of life. First-class housing, employment, affordability and livability rankings? We've got it all - along with more than 120,000 metro college students - in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Ranks #12 in Raw Private Sector Job GrowthMay 24, 2011 - The Business JournalsAdding more than 31,000 jobs from April 2010 to April 2011, Oklahoma's job numbers are a result of not simply avoiding the housing bubble, but of a strong economy and a workforce that is ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Forbes / New Geography: OKC #8 of "Top Big Cities for Manufacturing Jobs"May 9, 2011 - ForbesWhat city boasts an enviable CareerTech system offering free employee training, a solid tradition and experience in the MRO sector, and a business climate that just does it better for manufacturers with comprehensive tort and workers' comp reform just passed? Whether you're involved in traditional industrial activities or high-tech manufacturing, Oklahoma City shines, coming in at #8 on Joel Kotkin's "New Geographer" / Forbes' "Top Big Cities for Manufacturing Jobs" list

Forbes: OKC 4th-Best Place to Buy a Home Right NowMay 9, 2011 - ForbesHousing bubble or high unemployment got you down? Come to OKC. Forbes looked at Zillow data for 125 metro areas, examining home price-to-income ratios, unemployment, foreclosures and price trends and found OKC to indeed be both a better living and a better life, putting us at #4 on their "Best Places to Buy a Home Right Now" list.

Chief Executive: OK is more than OK for BizMay 3, 2011 - Chief ExecutiveComing in at #11, Oklahoma makes the 4th-best one-year jump, and the biggest five-year gain of all, in Chief Executive's annual "Best and Worst States for Business" survey results - and all this before passing comprehensive workers' comp and tort reform this legislative session.

Oklahoma City #2 in The Business Journals' "Small Business Vitality" RankingApril 11, 2011 - The Business JournalsUsing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and County Business Patterns, The Business Journals' third annual Small Business Vitality index shows Oklahoma City 2nd on their list of most conducive places for the creation and development of small businesses. Bizjournals used a six-part formula to analyze the nation's 100 largest metros to find the best climates for businesses to grow and flourish -- and once again, Oklahoma City shows its low-cost, high-value combination is tough to beat.

OKC's OMRF Ranked #6 in National SurveyMarch 3, 2011 - The ScientistIn its annual ranking of the "Best Places to Work for Postdoctoral Fellows," The Scientist magazine ranked the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, headquartered in downtown Oklahoma City's burgeoning biotech corridor, 6th among U.S. institutions. The rankings, which appear in the March issue of The Scientist, were based on surveys that gathered thousands of responses from postdoctoral fellows-postdocs-at nearly 100 institutions.

Oklahoma City Earns Highest Possible Ratings from S&P, Moody'sFebruary 28, 2011 - Standard & Poor's and Moody's / City of OKCStandard & Poor's rating service has announced that they confirm Oklahoma City's General Obligation debt rating of AAA, while Moody's Investor Service has also confirmed the City's Aaa bond rating. Both ratings are the highest ratings offered by their respective services, putting Oklahoma City in an elite group of the best municipal credits in the marketplace. A few of the factors that contributed to Oklahoma City's continued high rating include: Oklahoma City's expanding regional economic base that serves as the State's economic engine; ongoing downtown redevelopment; consistently strong financial performance and position that includes strategic business planning; conservative financial management practices; low debt and an affordable capital improvement program; and political and management stability -- all factors that contribute to making OKC a great place for business.

BEA: Oklahoma City 1st in Real GDP Gains Among Top 50 MarketsFebruary 23, 2011 - Bureau of Economic AnalysisWith 80 of the top 100 U.S. markets suffering economic decline, Oklahoma City ranked #3 overall and #1 among large markets in percentage change in real GDP, registering a whopping 14.5% increase in metro output during the 2008-2009 study period. High value and a stable local economy mean companies in Oklahoma City find it easier to grow and prosper in any economic climate.

OKC Shows Strong Private-Sector Job Growth Over Past Year, DecadeFebruary 3, 2011 - Bureau of Labor Statistics / BizjournalsA new analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Oklahoma City's recent success is not simply a passing fortuity, with OKC ranking in the top ten (#7) in percentage job growth over the past year, and in the top 25 (#21) in raw job growth over the past decade.

U.S. News: OKC is 4th Best City to Get a JobFebruary 1, 2011 - U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News analyzed stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and job aggregator site Juju.com to find the best places for the unemployed to seek "greener pastures." OKC's economy and quality of life continue to outperform the competition, and these results are just another indicator of Oklahoma City's ongoing success.

Citizens of Oklahoma City Named Southern Business & Development's "Person of the YearFebruary 1, 2011 - Southern Business & DevelopmentCitizens of "The City that Keeps Investing in Itself" were recognized by respected economic development publication Southern Business & Development for their willingness to be a part of the larger vision that has put OKC on positive media lists all over the world, jump-started the city's renaissance made it such a great place for both citizens and business. As the article says, "In an age of marked skepticism... Oklahoma City stands out like no place in the country. It is a city that has continued to invest in itself over and over again and the results are nothing less than extraordinary."

Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts Achieves Elite National RankingJanuary 21, 2011 - Art Fair SourcebookAccording to the latest edition of Greg Lawler's "Art Fair SourceBook," Oklahoma City's annual Festival of the Arts is ranked in the elite top 20 (#16) in the Fine Arts category. Lawler's publication is an industry standard for artists as well as art festival patrons from all over the country, and the ranking is further proof that OKC's cultural amenities continue to paint a pretty picture for prospective and current residents alike.

Oklahoma City Ranked Fifth on Forbes' "America's Best Job Markets" ListJanuary 6, 2011 - ForbesBoasting one of the lowest employment rates in the nation, Forbes reports that "retail and leisure jobs have been on the upswing, as well as professional services" - further proof that OKC is the place to be for business to grow.

Forbes: OKC Among Top Ten Best Bargain CitiesJanuary 6, 2011 - ForbesFor this analysis, Forbes examined median home prices, salary data, cost-of-living factors and unemployment rates to "reflect the strength of local economies." Oklahoma City lands at number nine on their list due to our low unemployment, rising incomes and outstanding overall value for employees and businesses alike.

Oklahoma City Boasts Top Ten (#6) Private-Sector Job Growth RateJanuary 6, 2011 - Business First / Bureau of Labor StatisticsOklahoma City's value continues to drive business success. Analyzing new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business First found Oklahoma City to have the sixth-highest percentage growth in private-sector jobs from November 2009 to the same month a year later. The Oklahoma City MSA added 7,200 positions - enough to even rank OKC in the top 20 (#19) in raw job growth.

OKC Among 10 Real Estate Markets to Thrive in 2011December 20, 2010 - Business InsiderCiting strong job growth and corresponding net migration as well as continued stability and development of OKC's energy and aerospace sectors, Business Insider picked Oklahoma City as one of its "10 Real Estate Markets That Will Thrive in 2011." OKC's well-known value also plays a factor, with an astounding 80.1% (tops on the list) of families able to afford their own home.

Brookings: Once Again, OKC A Top 20 PerformerDecember 15, 2010 - The Brookings Institution MetroMonitorThe seventh installment of Brookings' MetroMonitor series again highlights Oklahoma City as being among the Top 20 Strongest Performing Metro Areas in the nation. Oklahoma City was also singled out for being one of only 15 large metro areas to have at least 3 consecutive quarters of job growth the last year, one of only five large metros who had job growth in every quarter of 2010, and one of only ten metro areas that regained more than a quarter of the jobs they lost between their pre-recession high and post-recession low.

Oklahoma City Ranked #2 Post-Military Best PlacesDecember 8, 2010 - Military.com / USAANoting Oklahoma City's low housing costs, wealth of nearby educational opportunities, recreational and cultural resources (not to mention a thriving Tinker Air Force Base), Oklahoma City was ranked second on Military.com / USAA's Best Places for Military Retirement list. Often coveted by corporate recruiters, Oklahoma City makes a wealth of sense for post-military folks as well as businesses that value low costs and a productive, stable, well-skilled workforce.

OKC #1 in Tech Job GrowthDecember 7, 2010 - TechAmerica Foundation / Cybercities 2010Ready for yet another example of the power of Oklahoma City's low cost / high value combination and what it can mean to business growth and expansion? Clocking in at #1 in both percentage (5.4%) and raw (more than 900) job growth last year, Oklahoma City tops TechAmerica Foundation's Cybercities 2010 jobs report.

Mayor Mick Cornett Garners 2nd Place in World Mayor ProjectDecember 7, 2010 - World MayorHighlighting economic, fiscal and social initiatives and the partnership between leadership and the business community in Oklahoma City, the City Mayors Foundation awarded Mayor Mick Cornett with 1st runner up in the 2010 World Mayor Project competition. Tann vom Hove, senior editor at City Mayors, said Mayor Cornett helped turn a city with an unsure future into an American showcase of urban renewal. "A number of economic, fiscal and social initiatives have turned Oklahoma City, which doubted itself after the bombing of 1995, into one of America's boomtowns."

Oklahoma Leads Nation in GSP Growth RateNovember 18, 2010 - BizjournalsIn a year where 38 states showed declines, Oklahoma lead the nation in Gross State Product gains in 2009, at 6.6% - and was the only state in the southwest region to record an increase.

Urban Land Magazine / ULI Lists Top 10 Areas of New Non-farm Jobs: OKC #7 in Raw GainsNovember 11, 2010 - Urban Land (subscription)Examining BLS data for new non-farm raw job growth over the past year, the Urban Land Institute's Urban Land magazine noted Oklahoma City's place at #7 on that list - out of the nation's largest 49 metros.

Newsweek's "Top Ten Places Poised for Recovery" Highlights Oklahoma CityNovember 8, 2010 - NewsweekIs your city "stronger and shinier" than it was before the "economic twister?" In addition to appearing on Newsweek's "Top Ten Places Poised for Recovery" list, man-behind-the-curtain Joel Kotkin puts the spotlight on Oklahoma City's low unemployment, growing energy and aerospace sectors, home value stability and net in-migration from California, all helping to make OKC one of the best job markets for young people. With all these factors in place, as Kotkin puts it, "who's to say Oklahoma City can't be Oz?"

Oklahoma City #2 in Job Growth Rate, Top 10 in Raw Private Sector Job GainsNovember 3, 2010 - Bizjournals / BusinessFirstAccording to new figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, among the nation's largest 100 metros, Oklahoma City ranked #2 in terms of percentage gain of private sector job growth, and an astounding #9 in terms of raw numbers of private sector job gains from September 2009 to September 2010.

Forbes: Oklahoma City #1 "America's Most Affordable City"October 28, 2010 - Forbes MagazineForbes looked at a variety of factors, including unemployment and job growth as well as cost of living, in order to come up with their list. "We searched for cities that had a balance of cheap living and economic prosperity--places with solid job markets, but where costs aren't prohibitive." Their conclusion to the question of who offers the best overall value in the nation? Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett Named Public Official of the YearOctober 27, 2010 - Governing MagazineCited for his leadership on MAPS 3 (the latest iteration of Oklahoma City's landmark capital projects program) and community health initiatives, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett has been named Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine, the nation's preeminent publication for state and local governments. Among the qualities recognized are leadership, courage, innovation, creativity and good management. Good leadership and partnership opportunities are essential ingredients for a positive business environment - and OKC has working together to get big things accomplished down to an art.

OKC's Devon Energy Named BCA TEN Award Recipient by Americans for the ArtsOctober 20, 2010 - Americans for the ArtsA strong supporter of the arts in Oklahoma City, Devon Energy has been named one of the prestigious BCA TEN award winners for the 10 Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America. Through a variety of means and programs, Devon has reached out to school children, art students and local patrons all across OKC, and is truly one of the best examples of a "good corporate citizen" in the global marketplace today.

Milken: OKC Among Top 25 Best Performing CitiesOctober 19, 2010 - Milken InstituteWhat are the strongest indicators of a great city for business? After examining job, wage, salary and technology growth, Milken Institute found Oklahoma City to be in their Top 25 Best Performing Cities (#21). Milken attempts to understand the forces behind creating / sustaining jobs and economic growth, and once again OKC proves a great place to be for business.

Oklahoma City Ranked 7th for Income GrowthOctober 13, 2010 - Portfolio.comPortfolio analyzed the nation's largest 100 metro areas and their federal income data over the last 25 years, leading to another Top Ten ranking for Oklahoma City. OKC's income growth index was 28.29, with a 25-year income growth rate of 169.9 percent, 7th best in the U.S., due to OKC's stable marketplace, self-investment, and smart, targeted economic development policy that produces returns for companies and citizens alike.

Oklahoma Adding Leisure & Hospitality Jobs at Top 10 RateOctober 12, 2010 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics / BizjournalsOklahoma is more than OK when it comes to being more than just a great place to live, work and play - it's also a great place to visit. In another sign of a strong, diversified economy, Oklahoma is ranked 4th in percentage gain of Leisure & Hospitality jobs, and ninth in terms of raw job change from 2005 - 2010, in a new analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Haven't been to OKC lately? Perhaps it's time you made a visit to see why Oklahoma City makes such a great place for business, workers, families - and tourists.

Oklahoma City Arts District Neighborhood Named one of America's "10 Great Neighborhoods for 2010"October 12, 2010 - American Planning AssociationA virtual mirror of Oklahoma City's economic turnaround as a whole, Oklahoma City's historic Paseo district was named to the American Planning Association's "10 Great Neighborhoods for 2010" list. The Spanish-influenced Paseo Arts district, in the midst of a remarkable renaissance, joins high-profile neighborhoods such as Denver's LoDo and Cincinnati's Hyde Park on the list, and is really just beginning to hit its stride. A popular local haven and hangout, the Paseo Arts District is another example of Oklahoma City's burgeoning arts, cultural and neighborhood scene.

Forbes: OKC a Top 5 Fastest-Growing CityOctober 11, 2010 - ForbesWhat makes a city a "prime dynamic region?" A successful mix of a growing economy and affordability - the same qualities that make Oklahoma City a great place for business. "Our future cities also are often easier for workers and entrepreneurs alike," says Forbes. We happen to agree.

Oklahoma a Top 10 State for Doing Business, OKC a Top Ten MetroOctober 11, 2010 - Area Development MagazineArea Development Magazine, a respected site-selection trade publication, recently polled a "select group of highly respected consultants who work with a nationwide client base." In this flash survey, they asked consultants to rank states and cities according to eight site selection criteria critical to business success, including business costs, tax environment, labor climate, and rail / highway accessibility, among others. The result? Oklahoma is once again recognized as a great state for business location, and Oklahoma City also makes a Top Ten List appearance for best metros for business.

Oklahoma City in Top Five Low RentsSeptember 28, 2010 - U.S. Census Bureau American Community SurveyAnother reason OKC makes a great place for business and employees? Low housing costs. In new data released by the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, Oklahoma City is in the Top Five Low Rents among the nation's 50 largest metro areas.

Oklahoma City One of Best Communities for Young PeopleSeptember 21, 2010 - America's Promise AllianceOne of only a handful of cities to achieve this designation four times, America's Promise Alliance again recognized Oklahoma City as being one of the winners of the Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People. OKC received the honor due to a renewed focus on mentoring programs for youth and wide range of related volunteerism and philanthropy.

Brookings MetroMonitor - OKC Among 20 Strongest Performers Once AgainSeptember 15, 2010 - The Atlantic / Brookings InstitutionIf housing prices, unemployment, and economic production are some of the factors Brookings examines, no wonder we're so high on their lists.

No Test Anxiety Here: OKC Named One of Top 75 Places to Live While Going to CollegeSeptember 8, 2010 - American Institute for Economic ResearchScoring high in various Academic Environment, Quality of Life and Professional Opportunity factors, Oklahoma City gets an "A" for being a great place for students and recent grads. We think it's not too bad for older peeps, either.

Need Less Stress? Try Oklahoma CitySeptember 7, 2010 - Portfolio.comWhy worry? Living is easy in Oklahoma City, as evidenced by Portfolio.com's analysis of the nation's 50 largest metros which placed OKC as the 6th least stressful city in the U.S. Portfolio looked at unemployment, finances, health, weather, population, crime, traffic and more and found that in Oklahoma City, it is indeed a better living, and a better life.

Oklahoma City Among 10 Best Real Estate Investment MarketsAugust 21, 2010 - Local Market Monitor / Wall Street JournalIncome growth, stable employment, diversity of economy and stable home prices all contribute to another OKC Top Ten (#8) ranking, this time for real estate investment.

Forbes: Oklahoma City among Top Ten "Best Cities to Find a Job"August 20, 2010 - ForbesWith our low unemployment rate and a rate of only 2.3 candidates per open position, Forbes put Oklahoma City in the lucky seventh position in their "Best Cities to Find a Job" list.

OKC Named Top 10 Metro for Economic Growth PotentialJuly 2010 - Business FacilitiesLooking heavily at growth potential of each city's economic development strategy, OKC landed in the top 10 (#9) of Business Facilities' Top 10 Metro list.

Oklahoma City in Top 20, Shows Gains in Raw Private-Sector Job NumbersJune 30, 2010 - BusinessFirst / U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWhile a staggering 53 of the nation's largest 100 metros lost jobs since May 2000, Oklahoma City was #20 in terms of raw private-sector job growth over the past decade (May 2000 to May 2010) with a net gain of 14,500 jobs.

OKC's "Paw Park" Repeatedly Recognized Among Nation's BestJune 28, 2010 - The Oklahoman (via Dog Fancy and Southern Living)Who knew a park built for our four-legged friends would turn out to be a great place to meet fellow bipeds? Recently, Oklahoma City's premier dog park was named to the top 13 of Dog Fancy magazine's "America's Best Dog Parks" contest, as well as Southern Living's "The South's Five Best Dog Parks" list. Featuring a pond, water stations, trees, benches, and lots of room to run, Paw Park proves to be a great place for dogs - and their owners - to hang. Indeed, as park planner Don Bobzien indicates, the park might be a young professional's alternative to singles bars. "The dog park is the easiest place in Oklahoma City for total strangers to talk to total strangers," he said. "I mean, they have in common their dogs. ... Pretty soon some great relationships start out there. We've had some that developed into great romances."

Parenting: OKC a Top 10 City for Recreation, EconomyJune 22, 2010 - Parenting Magazine (economy)(recreation)Looking for a great place to "parent up" some great kids? Look no further than Oklahoma City. Parenting magazine took a look at unemployment rates, property values, commute time, park space and more and found OKC to be a Top 10 city in both the "Strongest Economies" list (#6) and "Best Cities for Recreation (#10) lists.

Three OKC-Area Companies on Computerworld's "Best Places to Work in IT" ListJune 21, 2010 - ComputerworldIn another sign of a healthy, highly skilled and productive workforce, two OKC-HQ'd companies, American Fidelity Assurance (#14) and Chesapeake Energy (#17) were named to the top 20 of Computerworld's "Best Places to Work in IT 2010" rankings, while the University of Oklahoma (#85) was also cited among the nation's best, including a top 10 ranking (#7) in the career development category.

OKC Makes Brookings' List of "Strongest-Performing Metro Areas" - AgainJune 15, 2010 - The Brookings InstitutionListed in Brookings' MetroMonitor Q1 2010 report as "one of the 21 strongest-performing metro areas" and by The Huffington Post at #4 on its "11 Cities That Are Beating The Recession" list (archived) utilizing the same data, Oklahoma City continues to beat the odds, as well as the recession, due to our business-friendly, low-cost environment. Brookings looked at employment, wages, output, and housing conditions among the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S.

Strong Job Growth Continues in Oklahoma CityJune 7, 2010 -New GeographyOklahoma City landed at #11 on New Geography's "2010 Best Cities for Job Growth" list. With both recent and long-term upward trends in job growth, Oklahoma City continues to batter the recession - rather than the other way around.

Oklahoma Leading the Way in Entrepreneurial ActivityMay 20, 2010 -Kauffman FoundationThe latest Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity shows Oklahoma and Montana "outdoing the usual suspects" when it comes to launching new businesses. Due to our low-cost, high-value business environment and the pervasive "pioneer spirit" of our citizens, Oklahoma City is indeed proving to be a great place to start and run a business, and the new Kauffman data only backs this proposition.

Census Bureau: OKC Boasts Third-Best CommuteApril 23, 2010 -U.S. Census Bureau American Community SurveyAmong the top 52 cities in the country, Oklahoma City residents deal with the third-shortest commutes to and from work, according to the Census Bureau's most recent American Community Survey. OKC's drivers spend an average of 21.35 minutes behind the wheel while on their way to work, with only Rochester (20.37 minutes) and Buffalo -Niagara Falls (20.78 minutes) coming in ahead. Of cities of similar size, OKC easily beat out its peers, including Salt Lake City, Nashville, and Milwaukee. Shorter drive times indeed mean it's easier to get down to business in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City #6 on Major Metro Affordable Housing IndexApril 20, 2010 -Business FirstCost competitiveness continues to be a core competency for OKC, as we once again boast a top 10 ranking in a national cost study. Lower costs mean high profitability potential in Oklahoma City's highly sought-after corporate / cost environment, where it's easier to do business - successfully.

Bringing Low Business Costs to the Big Leagues: Oklahoma City #1 on KPMG Business Cost SurveyMarch 30, 2010 -KPMGAmong U.S. metros of 1 million population or greater, Oklahoma City has the lowest business costs, according to KPMG's 2010 "Competitive Alternatives" analysis of 26 separate cost drivers for business in 112 cities in 10 countries. Contributing to Oklahoma City's league-leading index were our low costs for labor, industrial / office leasing and electricity. Combine that with powerful incentives and free training programs, and one can see how locating in OKC can really benefit the bottom line.

Dude! OKC #4 on "Cities That Are Having An Awesome Recovery" ListMarch 18, 2010 -Business InsiderWith our U.S. leading low unemployment rate and an improving GMP (gross metro product), OKC outpaces Dallas, D.C. and KC on Business Insider's "20 Cities That Are Having An Awesome Recovery." Which just goes to further prove our theory that OKC is indeed awesome.

OKC Ranked #6 on "Best Places for Young Adults" ListMarch 15, 2010 -Portfolio.comMove over Dallas and Seattle. According to a new Portfolio.com / Bizjournals study, OKC ranks in the top 10 "Best Places for Young Adults" due to strong growth rates, low cost of living and high numbers of employed, college-educated under-34s. (We think Bricktown, Downtown, the Thunder, Western Avenue, the Plaza District, Midtown, Paseo and so forth don't hurt either . . . But that's just our opinion.)

January 21, 2010 -FortuneOklahoma City makes it easy to find success, along with a great workforce. No wonder that for the third year in a row, three Oklahoma City-headquartered companies are named to Fortune's "Top 100 Companies to Work For" list.

December 31, 2009 -Juju.comOklahoma City's economy continues to make gains as OKC moves up two spots to number 11 on Juju.com's "Job Search Difficulty Index," which compares BLS unemployment statistics to posted job opportunities online.

December 16, 2009 -MarketWatchWhat does a combination of good employment numbers, a growing population, and more companies moving in & starting up by the day mean? That Oklahoma City is in the top 25 of MarketWatch.com's "Best Cities for Business" list.

October 13, 2009 -Money / Fortune MagazinesStable, affordable, a diverse local economy and business-friendly partnerships galore - all reasons why Oklahoma City is the #1 large metro in the nation in which to launch a small business.

September 24, 2009 -Bureau of Economic AnalysisThe Bureau of Economic Analysis confirms it: Oklahoma City is in the top 20% of all metro areas in terms of real GDP growth.

August 11, 2009 -Business WeekContinuing our strong momentum in the residential real estate market, Oklahoma City is included in the Top 10 of Business Week's "Strongest Housing Markets in the U.S." list.

July 28, 2009 -Volunteering in AmericaVolunteering In America ranks Oklahoma City 7th among large cities for its overall volunteerism rate -- and 2nd in the amount of volunteer hours per resident.

July 16, 2009 -U.S. News and World ReportOklahoma City was ranked fourth in U.S. News and World Report's Best Undervalued Places to Live, due to our strong housing market and "pro-business philosophy."

June 23, 2009 -Local Market MonitorLocal Market Monitor's Home Price Forecast, which predicts local market behavior, has identified Oklahoma City as being among the top 10 MSAs for best expected performance in home prices over the next 12 months.

June 1, 2009 -Directorship MagazineAccording to Directorship Magazine, the state of Oklahoma ranks high among states "for business" due to our low litigation rank, favorable tax climate, low costs of living and labor and high quality of life. Among others, Oklahoma ranked better than neighbors Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.

June 2009 -indeedWith a top 10 unemployed-to-job posting ratio, Indeed ranks Oklahoma City the 8th best city to look for a job.

June, 2009 -The Brookings InstitutionOklahoma City was ranked second by Brookings' MetroMonitor for Economic Performance during the recession. Brookings looked at employment, wages, output, and housing conditions among the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S.

May 20, 2009 -Relocation.comOklahoma City ranked in Relocation.com's Top Cities for a Fresh Start list. Relocation.com used popularity, economic prospects, housing affordability, and how active the community is to rate the cities.

May 19, 2009 -ForbesOklahoma City was recently ranked #16 of the 20 Top College Towns for Jobs by Forbes.

May 11, 2009 -Art BistroOklahoma City ranked 4th in Art Bistro's Top 25 Cities for Designers and Artists list. Art Bistro used the cost of living, among other factors, to rate the cities.

May 8, 2009 -Yahoo.comOklahoma City was recently ranked #4 of the 25 Top Cities for your Career by WomenCo. Cities were judged on growth rates, average salaries and costs of living.

April 21, 2009 -fDi MagazinefDi (Foreign Direct Investment) magazine ranked Oklahoma City #1 on its list of most cost-effective large cities in the U.S. (pop. between 500,000 and 1 million), due to factors ranging from economic potential to quality of life and business friendliness.

April 9, 2009 -BusinessWeek / MSNIn order to find the most affordable large metro area in the country, BusinessWeek analyzed average rent and local income. Need affordable, quality housing? Look no further: Oklahoma City is #1.

April 3, 2009 -TravelOKOklahoma City's Mat Hoffman Action Sports Park is named one of "Ten Best" in National Geographic Travel Guide

March 25, 2009 -ForbesOklahoma City rated one of "America's Most Livable Cities" by Forbes

March 25, 2009 -ForbesForbes reports Oklahoma City among the best "Places for Business and Careers"

February 2, 2009 -Bizjournals.comOklahoma City in top ten 'Best Places to Start a Small Business.'

January 22, 2009 -FortuneThree Oklahoma City-headquartered companies named to Fortune's "Top 100 Companies to Work For"

November 24, 2008 -CNNOklahoma City is listed as one of CNN's "30 Best Cities to Find a Job." OKC is the largest city on the list.

October 8, 2008 -The OklahomanOn the verge of its first year as a permanent major league city, Oklahoma City is ranked No. 79 in The Sporting News list of 400 best sports cities.

September 24, 2008 -Milken InstituteBest-Performing Cities 2008: Where America's Jobs Are Created and Sustained.

September 10, 2008 -Volunteering in AmericaOklahoma City has an average annual volunteer rate of 32.1%, with 324,000 volunteers serving 41.1 million hours per year.

August 27, 2008 -The OklahomanOklahoma is No. 1 in home value gains - at a time when homeowners in most of the rest of the country are wondering what hit them in their equity.

May 20, 2008 -Today ShowOklahoma City was recently ranked # 28 of the 100 Best Places to Raise a Family by the Today Show. Cities were judged on crime rates, school quality, heathcare, the arts, housing costs, average commute times and divorce rates.

April 29, 2008 -Forbes MagazineOklahoma City was recently ranked as America's Most Recession-Proof City due to falling unemployment, one of the strongest housing markets in the country and strong growth in agriculture, energy and manufacturing.

April 24, 2008 -Forbes MagazineOklahoma City placed 4th on the Forbes.com list for Best Cities for Commuters. Forbes.com looked at the 75 largest metro areas in the U.S. and evaluated them based on traffic delays, travel times and how efficiently commuters use existing infrastructure.

March 18, 2008 - Forbes MagazineOklahoma City ranked 7th in Forbes.com's America's 10 Cleanest Cities list. Forbes used air and water quality, among other factors, to rate the cities.

March 10, 2008 - Bizjournals.comOklahoma City is the Number 1 most affordable housing market of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in America.

February 11, 2008 - Bizjournals.comOklahoma City ranked 4th in a review of the least stressful cities in America. The study examined air quality, sunshine, crime, unemployment, commute time, among other factors, to rate the cities.

January 10, 2008 - Forbes MagazineOklahoma City ranked 19th in Forbes.com's Best Cities for Jobs list. Forbes used five equally weighted data points to rank cities: the state's unemployment rate, job growth, income growth, median household income and cost of living.

October 12, 2007 - Forbes MagazineOklahoma City ranked 10th in Forbes.com's Best of the Cities for Jobs list, up from 67th in 2005. Forbes used five equally weighted data points to rank cities: median household income, unemployment, income growth, cost of living and job growth.

August 22, 2007 - Co-Star AdvisorSeveral major metropolitan areas appear to be enjoying a flourishing retail development market and show little effect by the residential downtown. Co-Star Advisor spotlighted the country's best performing markets in terms of retail vacancy, rental rates, development activity and pricing. Oklahoma City ranked 6th best. The common thread between the markets includes strong population growth, low unemployment and high job growth.

August 8, 2007 - The OklahomanThe Bureau of Economic Analysis said personal income grew by an average of 6.6 percent across all 363 of the nation's metropolitan areas from 2005 to 2006, while income in Oklahoma City grew 8.7 percent.

June 28, 2007 - The OklahomanWater experts say Oklahoma City has the tastiest tap water on the continent. The city won this year's "Best of the Best" water taste test - an annual competition judged by water drinkers with trained tongues chosen by the American Water Works Association, a leading water research and advocacy group.

June 25, 2007 - US Fed NewsOklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett has been awarded Outstanding Achievement in the 2007 City Livability Awards Program. Judges were former mayors that selected the cities from a pool of over 200 applicants based on mayoral leadership, creativity and innovation, and broad impact on the quality of life for residents.

June 21, 2007 - The Biz JournalOklahoma City's income grew 24.10% from 2000-2005, making it the 6th strongest metropolitan area for income growth in the nation.

June 19, 2007 - The Journal RecordOklahoma's growing rate of entrepreneurship in 2006 boosted the state to fourth in the country, an annual survey of startup businesses recently revealed. According to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, Oklahoma had about 430 entrepreneur startups per 100,000 residents in 2006.

June 11, 2007 - The Wall Street JournalAccording to the Commerce Department Bureau of Economic Affairs, Oklahoma has the lowest tax burden of any state, including the District of Columbia. Oklahoma's tax burden was 27.8% versus Connecticut at the top with 38.3%.

May 17, 2007 - The Journal RecordOklahoma City was listed as the fifth-best place in the nation in midsized metro areas to relocate a family. Washington, D.C.-based Worldwide ERC, the association for workforce mobility, and Primary Relocation, with headquarters in Memphis, partnered for the third year to compile the list. Ranking factors included cost of living, crime rates, education, climate and each city's arts and cultural attractions when a family is looking to relocate. The study defined midsized areas as those with a population between 575,000 and 1.25 million.

May 4, 2007 - The OklahomanDouble-digit growth in several suburbs spells continued long-term strength for housing construction in the Oklahoma City metro area. "Oklahoma is bucking the national trend", said Deidre Myers, director of research and economic analysis for the agency. Myers pointed to another positive in Oklahoma's housing numbers: the proportion of housing units permitted last year that were single-family. She said that's a sign of stability since families usually occupy single-family dwellings. Oklahoma ranks fifth in the nation.

May 2007 - Forbes MagazineOklahoma City gained a 12.1 appreciation in the sales price for homes when compared to last year. Oklahoma City's home appreciation metro ranks second in the nation, following Seattle's 12.3.

April 5, 2007 - The OklahomanThe Oklahoma City area, nearing 1.2 million people, moved up another spot in the national population rankings to No. 45. The data is a population estimate through July 1, 2006. Oklahoma City's growth from 2000 to 2006 was healthy and steady. "We're building all the right magnets for economic growth in central Oklahoma," said Zach Taylor, executive director of the Association of Central Governments.

March 28, 2007 - The OklahomanIncome growth from the Oil Patch propelled the state to the third-best growth rate in personal income in 2006, according to preliminary figures from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis. Oklahoma per capita personal income grew by 7.6 percent. Nationally, personal income grew by 6.3 percent last year.